In this edition, read the second story in our new series, Insights into Bengaluru: Why bank loans aren’t meant for the poor. Following the two sexual assault cases last week we have a feature on what companies need to do to keep their night-shift employees safe, and an open letter to working women in the city from the CEO of ELCITA. We also have several guides: how you can retrieve stolen items from the police after a theft, how you can switch to solar power, and what you should do if you purchase medicines that have been tampered with. Finally, read about why the dry waste collection centre in RR Nagar was allegedly forcibly shut down by local goons. All this and more…

This week’s highlight: Here’s why bank loans aren’t meant for Bengaluru’s poor

Opening Janadhan accounts for the poor is said to be a burden to the banks, as there are few transactions that take place in these accounts. Pic: Shree D N

The poor in Bengaluru are trapped in the vicious circle of money-lending, unable to get bank loans. Structurally, they are designed to be left out of the banking system, as banks cannot determine either their ability or intent to repay loans. Here’s Part 2 of our new series, Insights Into ‎Bengaluru: Why bank loans aren’t meant for Bengaluru’s poor.

Guides to living in Bengaluru

Once an item stolen by thieves is recovered, it has to undergo a process in the court to prove its ownership, before reaching the rightful owner. Even then, one can be considered lucky to get back the lost item in its original shape, especially when it is gold. Read: Procedure for reclaiming stolen items.

Wondering if it makes sense for you to tap into solar power? Here’s our guide to installing a rooftop solar power plant in your home, featuring the various types of solar set up, costs involved, selling power to BESCOM and other related issues. Read: Installing solar power in your home.

Ever bought medicines from a pharmacy, only to find the bottle empty or the package tampered with? Here’s what you can do in such a situation. Read: Customer protection while purchasing medicines.

Warring over waste

The dry waste collection centre at Rajarajeshwari Nagar, managed by RISE Foundation, is now defunct. Pic: Veena Rajappa

Less than a year after the dry waste collection centre (DWCC) in Rajarajeshwari Nagar ward became operational, it was forcibly shut down last week. Read: Goons encroach BBMP land, shut dry waste collection centre.

Making Bengaluru safer

Providing transportation is a must for all companies that employ women in night shifts, according to government rules. Do these rules cover men too? Here’s an overview of the existing rules and regulations: What companies should do to ensure safety of night-shift staff.

What will it take for women to feel safe in Bengaluru, especially late at night? While the authorities certainly need to improve systems and processes to make lives safer, women must also take necessary precautions and look out for themselves says Rama NS. Read: An open letter to working women in Bengaluru.

Groundwater stories

Renuka School near Kaikondrahalli lake stopped using borewells and tankers two years back, all thanks to an open well and rainwater harvesting. Read: A lesson in how rainwater harvesting helps.

Voices from the road

Hulimavu-Begur Road outside DLF Town. Pic: Sapna Prabhu

Akshayanagar Layout near Bannerghatta Road sees a fair amount of traffic. However, the current infrastructure is not only inadequate, but also unsafe for commuters. Read: An upcoming locality without asphalted roads.

Inadequate pavements, builders dumping construction material on the road, encroachments by street vendors – all this is compromising pedestrian safety in Indira Nagar 2nd stage. Read about it on I Change Indira Nagar, our newest blog.

A trip back in time

Chandra Shekhar Balachandran reminisces about booking railway tickets in the 1960s, joyrides in the engine compartment, and an unfortunate train accident. Read: Buffered memories.

The week that was

• A KSPCB survey revealed that detergents are the cause of froth being formed on Bellandur lake downstream.
• This weekend, residents of HSR Layout are protesting against the unbearable smell and mismanagement of Karnataka Compost Development Corporation. In the northern part of the city, people under the banner Save Sankey Forum, are protesting against a new apartment coming up near Sankey tank in Malleshwaram.
• BBMP has filed a criminal complaint against Manyata Tech Park for encroaching on a storm-water drain where a 15-year old boy was washed away last week. Prakash, a 9th standard student was playing with his friends in the storm water drain in Veernahalli when tragedy struck.
• BWSSB has approved a proposal to impose penalty on those who do not implement rainwater harvesting in their houses. Violators may have to end up paying 25 per cent of their water bill for three consecutive months, if the Urban Development Department approves the proposal.
• An additional 1,000 bikes have been added to Bengaluru police’s kitty for night patrolling. The department added additional bikes, to strengthen law and order, following the two sexual assault incidents that took place last week.
• BBMP will reportedly roll out a web-based accounting system that continuously updates inflow and outflow of funds. The initiative is expected to help in real time monitoring of the Palike’s financial status.
• Bangalore University will open a school of Economics soon. The school called Dr Sitaram Jindal School of Economics will be set in the Jnana Bharathi campus. An MoU has been signed between the University and the Jindal Group for the same.
• Taxi aggregator Uber has launched carpooling services in Bengaluru. Called UberPOOL, the service is available from Koramangala, Inner Ring Road and Indira Nagar to anywhere within Bengaluru city limits, from 7 am to 9 pm. Ola too has announced their foray into carpooling, with OlaShare.
• A committee formed by BBMP to look into the fixing of rent for Town Hall is considering decreasing the fee by 50 per cent. After renovation, the BBMP had increased the rent from Rs 5,000 to Rs 1.25 lakh per day, due to which there were no takers for Town Hall.

Events this week

Untitled – October 17th and 18th, at Alliance Francaise 

• Attend the screening ofNach der Revolution (After the revolution), a film on what happened after the fall of the Berlin Wall at Goethe Institut on October 15th.
• Think Global, Build Social – Architecture for a Better World, an exhibition that explores the theme of social responsibility in contemporary architecture is on display at InCITE Gallery until October 17th.
• Stephane Wrembel, a jazz artist who learnt to play from the gypsies is performing at Windmills Craftworks on October 16th and 17th.
• Vijay Padaki’s new play, Untitled, about a child who has grown up unwanted is being staged at Alliance Francaise on October 17th and 18th.
• Experience a Cutchi Dastarkhwan and get a taste of Muslim food from around the country on October 17th at MM road.
• Walk through the lanes of the Cantonment area and embark on a journey for Bengaluru’s best biryani on the Fraser Town Food Walk on October 18th.

Click here for the complete list of events in Bengaluru.

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